According to a recent report, "It’s not your imagination: it really is taking longer to get to work than it used to." With more cars on the roads these days, average daily driving commutes are increasing. All the more reason we should consider multi-modal transit alternatives.

Simple right? Maybe not so much when you consider the difficulty many people have when making connections across town without a car. Are crosswalks actually noticeable enough to make drivers stop behind the white line? Do bike lanes or side paths exist to provide a safe space for bicyclists, moving alongside fast-moving cars? Are buses stopping where people need to go or should bus routes be updated to provide better access to more people across town?

These are questions people are raising everyday as cities look to update their transit plans. In an effort to reduce traffic jams and increase access for more demographics, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the needs of every community. This is why gathering community feedback is understood today as a vital tool in regional transit planning. Vireo has worked with several communities to understand the needs of their bus systems, sidewalk and bike paths, and overall access with multi-modal transportation. We hope this means not only a decrease in average daily commute times, but we also hope it leads to better connected, healthier, and happier communities.